Tourist in Iceland, The - 01.01.1892, Blaðsíða 7

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THE TOURIST IN ICELAND.
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Third route. — South-west of Iceland.
From Reykjavik via Reynivellir (there a line salmon
river). Hestur, Reykholt (historical place — Snorri
Sturluson — hot springs), Kalmanstunga (Surtshellir,
the greatest cave in Iceland), Lake Arnarvatn (best
trout fishing), Pingvellir, G-eysir (Gullfoss, the grand
waterfall), Laugarvatn, Efribru (best fishing in Ice-
land, Sog) and back to Reykjavik, making this trip
in 15 days.
We shall remark, that these tables of routes are
made with the assistance of one of our principal
guides in Iceland, who is noted for being careful in
selecting the most agreeable night quarters as to clean-
lines and comfort for the tourists; this gentleman
has accompanied many distinguished travellers from
various countries throughout Iceland to everybody’s
satisfaction. His name is Herra Porgrimur Gubmunds-
son, to whom intending tourist can apply direct, care of
The Tourist in Iceland
The areal of Iceland is about 38,000 sqare miles
(Ireland 32,511).
The population of Iceland. At the last
census, of Nov. 1th 1890, the population of Iceland
was found to be 70,240. The emigration to America
in the last twenty years has prevented the population
from increasing more.
The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, numbers
upwards of 3700 inhabitants.
The constitution of Iceland. Iceland belongs
to the Danish Monarchy. By the new constitution,
which was signed on the 5th January 1874 by His
Majesty King Christian IX. in commemoration of the
millennial anniversary of the colonisation of the island,
Iceland has its own Legislative and administration
for all local affairs. 'The legislative power is in the
hands of the King and the National Assembly named
Althing (Icel. aljnngi), and the executive in the hands
of the King alone. There is a secretary for Iceland
in Copenhagen, who is responsible for the mainten-
ance of the constitution. A governor for the island
appointed by the King and residing in Reykjavik car-
ries on the government on the responsibility of the
secretary in Copenhagen. The Althing consists of
thirty members elected by the people, and six ap-
pointed by the King. It is divided into two houses
— the upper and lower —, the upper containing the
six members appointed by the King, and six others,
elected from the general body of the Althing from
among those of its members who have been sent to
it by the constituencies. The Althing sits every other
year.
Our orthography of Icelandic nomina pro-
pria. Our readers will kindly notice that it is
our rule to write all local names and person’s accor-
ding to Icelandic ortography and we use always the
nominative form, for inst.: Pingvellir (not Thingvalla,
which is the genitive form). With regard to special
Icelandic letters we beg to call attention to the p (P)
which has the sound of th, as in think; d (£)) = th
soft, as in father; a = ou, as in loud, proud; i and
y == ee, in meet; 6 = oe, in foe; u = o in move.
As to the Icelandic pronunciation of other letters (vow-
els) suffice it to know, that a has the sound of a
in far; e = ai in fair; i = e in pin; j = y\ o =
au, in fraud ■ ce= i, in prize; 6 — u, in murmur; au
= oi, in coin; ei and ey = ei in leisure.
Icelandic newspapers and periodicals. At
present there are six political journals in Iceland,
three at Reykjavik, one at Isafjorbur, one at Akur-
eyri and one at Seybisfjorbur.
The largest journal in Reykjavik appears twice a
week, the other two appear once a week, other papers
in the country twice or thrice in a month.
Of the Reykjavik journals the issue of the largest is
upwards of 2500 copies.
Besides these a journal on ecclesiastical matters
appears once a month, also a journal on total absti-
nence (Good Templar).
Further, government reports, 40 sheets annually,
and parliamentary reports (aljnngistibindi) about 200
sheets every other year. Of yearly publications we
have one political and one literary periodical nearly
20 sheets yearly, also one periodical on farming and
one psedagogical. We have also a yearly report over
the various news and incidences of the year at home
and abroad. In Reykjavik there are two printing
offices with several printing machines.
Icelanders residing at Copenhagen publish one
paper monthly (illustrated). Icelanders residing in
Canada publish three political journals (weekly pa-
pers), one monthly journal on ecclesiastical matters
and one yearly publication on the same subject. All
t.iose are in the Icelandic language.
Schools and education. Reykjavik being the
Capital of the island, the centre of education is
there, and judging from population (only 3700 inhabi-
tants) there are few towns if any which have so many
schools, they are:
1. A Latine college with 7 professors and some
80 pupils. There is taught Latin, Greek, English,
French, Danish, German, geography, history, mathema-
tics, physics, zoology, botany etc. Coursus generally 6
years.
2. A ministerial college with 3 professors. Prin-
cipally theological fitting young men for the ministry.
Coursus 2 years.
3. A medical school, with 3 professors. Coursus
4 years.
4. Two girls’ schools at present with some 40 pu-
pils each.
5. A navigation school just founded.
6. A commercial school before mentioned.